United’s Wenger, Hedges, Gaddis Hear Names Called At SuperDraft
1.12.12
KANSAS CITY, MS. (January 12, 2012) – For the second consecutive year, Reading United had multiple draft picks in the MLS SuperDraft, including Lititz, PA native and 2010 alumnus Andrew Wenger, who was selected first overall by the expansion Montreal Impact. Two season alumni Matt Hedges will be packing his bags for Texas, as FC Dallas selected him with the 11th pick in the draft, while Raymon Gaddis was selected by Reading’s parent club, the Philadelphia Union, with the 35th pick.
Last year, a record four Reading United alumni were selected, including three in the first round. The clear cut star of the draft was 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year C.J. Sapong, selected #10 overall by the newly rebranded Sporting Kansas City. Alumni Zarek Valentin was selected #3 overall by Chivas USA, followed by Sapong, Reading native Corey Hertzog (#13 by the New York Red Bull) and Levi Houapeu (#41 by the Philadelphia Union).
Wenger, a Generation Adidas signing out of Duke, was highly regarded as the most versatile player in the draft after moving from center back to forward before his junior year. This originally puzzling decision was made after being named the 2010 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The end result of such a drastic shift? Wenger finished fourth in the nation in scoring and was named 2011 ACC Offensive Player of the Year after 17 goals and eight assists in 22 games. He was also named the Mac Hermann Trophy recipient this past season, widely regarded to be the “Heisman Trophy of college soccer”.
Andrew played in 13 games for the United during the 2010 season. He netted one goal, a game tying effort in stoppage time against the Ocean City Nor’easters in a rain soaked affair on July 10th, 2010. Wenger also played in 8 games for the Carolina Dynamo, a fellow PDL squad, scoring two goals.
Wenger will join United alumnus and #3 overall pick in last year’s draft Zarek Valentin in Montreal. Valentin, who was originally selected by Chivas USA in the 2011 SuperDraft, was announced as the second selection in the MLS Expansion Draft in late 2011. Wenger and Valentin, who battled each other while playing high school soccer in Lancaster County, will now roam the same turf on a nightly basis, but on the same team this time around.
Hedges, widely considered to be the best central defender prospect in the draft, will have a chance to start immediately for FC Dallas, who could be looking for help along the back line early. A first team All-American during his senior year with North Carolina, the 6’4” Hedges provides a veteran savvy, good feet, and solid aerial ability on set pieces.
During his time with the United, Hedges was a PDL Defender of the Year finalist in 2010 after solidifying Reading’s back line over 14 games and scoring two goals. He battled some minor injuries during the 2011 campaign, but still played in 11 games and equaling his goal total from the previous year.
Raymon Gaddis is a speedy right back in a similar mold to the Union’s current stalwart, Sheanon Williams. Gaddis earned second team all-BIG EAST honors as a senior this past year, as well as named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List prior to the season. Ultimately, he provides depth along the back line, which could prove useful if Williams misses a portion of the season for the Olympics.
Gaddis also spent the past two summers with the United, playing in eight games during the 2010 season and one game in 2011. Playing on the same back line with players such as Hedges and West Virginia teammate Eric Schoenle, Raymon netted his lone goal in a United uniform against a Carolina Dynamo team that included future 2011 draft picks Jalil Anibaba and Stephen McCarthy, and 2012 draft picks Chris Estridge and Warren Creavalle.
Gaddis’ selection also marked the second straight year that the Philadelphia Union has used a draft pick on a Reading United alumnus. Philadelphia selected Reading’s Levi Houapeu in the third round of last year’s draft, showing further proof that the connection to the United’s PDL efforts are paying dividends for both sides.
ABOUT READING UNITED AC
Reading United A.C. (formerly Reading Rage) is the Greater Reading area’s premier minor league soccer team. Led by the ownership group of Berks Professional Sports, Inc. the club was founded in 1995 as the Reading Rage. As the club entered its 15th season a name, logo, and color change was made to better feature the ties to the local and state community as well as the soccer goals of the team and its partners. Reading United is a Player Development Partner of the Philadelphia Union MLS team. For more information about Reading United AC, visit http://www.readingunitedac.com.
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